Things are starting to feel festive in my household. The tree went up on the 1st December (the earliest it’s ever been up in our house) and I’ve managed to purchase three quarters of my Christmas gifts for friends and family. This is possibly the most organised I’ve ever been. Must be getting old.

To kick off the first of my Christmas posts, I’ll be reviewing this beautiful Christmas Hamper from Prestige Gifts:

I enjoy receiving a hamper as a present because they’re a gift of multiple things and usually contain something you haven’t tried before. In mine, I received:

Pretty much everything ticked the right boxes for me, apart from the marshmallows which aren’t vegetarian but these were happily received by other family members. And, there was plenty of other things that are top of my list such as the chocolate and the olives.

The dark chocolate with orange shortbread has been a new discovery for me. I’ve never been a fan of shortbread as I didn’t like the texture and felt it was bland, but nontraditional varieties seem to be more palatable.

I’ve been drinking the English tea most mornings but kept a few in reserve for the Christmas break as it’s really nice but quite scarce now with only ten bags in the box.

In all, this is something I’d like to receive and to give as a gift because it introduces you to new flavours and brands you wouldn’t usually find at your local supermarket. Plus, the produce you receive is something that you can snack on throughout the days or over a holiday. I know we’ll all be using the oatcakes for the cheeseboard which is something we’re really looking forward to. Who doesn’t like a cheeseboard at Christmas?

If you’re thinking of gifting someone you know with a Prestige Hamper, take a look at their Christmas Hampers range. There’s many combinations and varieties to chose from including port and cheese, fresh deli hampers, chocolate and wine and much more. With price ranges to suit all budgets.

It’s my favourite time of year. Everything is covered in cob web and there’s so much spooky stuff on the TV.

As the 31st isn’t too far away I decided to post a quick DIY for you: a papier-mache pumpkin bowl. It’s cool because trick and treaters have to reach into the pumpkin’s mouth to get their treat

Here’s what you’ll need:

Clockwise from the top left:

A blown up balloon – you’ll probably be able to blow yours up bigger. I have a weird fear of balloons popping in my face

torn up tissue paper in black

torn up newspaper

Orange paint

PVA glue

a paintbrush

a scalpel

a black marker pen

Step One – first layer of black tissue paper

Water down a big blob of your PVA glue in a container and start painting on the black tissue paper over the balloon. I did two layers and had to wait for the first one to dry. Use a hair dryer if you’re in a rush

Step Two – layer up with newspaper

Once your layers of black tissue paper are dry, begin painting on the newspaper with the glue. Again use the hairdryer if you’re getting impatient. I did three layers of this and then waited until it was dry.

Step Three – pop the balloon and use the orange paint

Once dry, I stuck a needle through the newspaper and popped the balloon. I then painted the newspaper structure in an orange. And again the trusty hairdryer can help speed this up. I had to do two coats until I could no longer see the newspaper.

Step Four – draw the face

Draw a large open mouth shape at the bottom broader end of the balloon shape. I also drew and coloured in two eye shapes and a triangle nose to create the face.

Step Five – cut out the mouth

Use a scalpal to cut out the mouth of the pumpkin. You might need some scissors to get the jagged edges looking crisper.

Step Six – Put some sweets or chocolate inside the pumpkin

Here’s the result of mine below:

I’ve filed up my pumpkin with Cadbury’s Goo Heads but any type of sweet or chocolate will fit. And it’s reusable and refillable.

When you own a home, you will want to make it as comfortable as possible. Whether it is to cater to guests or to provide some true comfort on cold, winter nights, it can be tricky to find the time to make it feel the way you wish. In some cases, a comfortable home is essential to maintaining your mental wellbeing. Unfortunately, it can sometimes take a living space a long while before it begins to feel like a home. Luckily, there are lots of small but crucial steps you can take, which will help your home feel more comfortable in no time.

Keep it personal

It is easy to get swept away with fashionable décor and minimalist furniture, but this can sometimes remove personality from a home. Personal items and family photographs are the most important parts of someone’s life, and they can act as a huge helping hand when you are in a dark place. Although you should be sure to keep clutter to a minimum, having your personal items placed in visible locations can bring an undeniable warmth to any room.

Consider renovation

Often, it is the layout of a space which prevents it from feeling comfortable. Contrary to what people may assume, an open living space can feel more comforting than numerous separate rooms. This is one of the biggest attractions of renovating a space. After you have had the construction work done, you can clear the rubble and debris by looking into post construction in Orange Country NY, 261 Liberty St, Newburgh NY 12550 or beyond. Here, you can get help from companies like America’s Cleaning Service to get your dream home back on track.

Use a warm colour scheme

Living in a home with stark colours can make people feel more out of place than comfortable. Ideally, you should be looking at warm tones to decorate your home with. Such colours look especially inviting with natural light, or when soft lamps are switched on. You can choose to run with a neutral colour, such as cream. Some people even choose to have a feature wall with brighter colours or patterned wallpaper to add some more personality to a room.

Invest in soft textiles

It is no surprise that soft textiles like blankets and cushions are one of the biggest keys to a comfortable home. In each room, you should use a variety of textures to help it look cosy and warm. In winter months, these textiles are an integral part of ensuring a great sleep and relaxing leisure time. While some people choose to make some furnishings at home, others prefer to shop at bespoke or vintage stores for a range of options.

Try aromatherapy

There is a lot of scepticism surrounding aromatherapy, despite science backing how certain scents can invoke certain moods. Essential oils such as lavender and chamomile are known for inducing a restful sleep, and clove or ginger oils are perfect in winter for helping people feel warm. To feel the most benefits, add a small essential oils diffuser to each room in your home, or purchase some scented candles.